Chicago Enacted Same Gun Tax As Seattle, and Homicides Are Up

On October 10, 2012, Breitbart News reported that Cook County Officials were pushing a gun and ammo “violence tax” to offset the cost of gun violence in Chicago. The tax was implemented in 2013, homicides rose in 2014, and they are higher now than they were a year ago at this point.

On August 10, 2015 the Seattle City Council passed a similar tax–$25 for every gun and five cents for every bullet sold in the city–under the same premise; that a punitive tax will somehow punish those behind gun crime, perhaps reducing it.

But as Breitbart News reported regarding the Chicago’s “violence tax,” such punitive measures will not affect any of the illegal weapon or ammo purchases criminals and gang members make on the streets, but they will affect the price law-abiding citizens pay for guns and ammo intended to be used for self-defense. In fact, The Huffington Post reported the tax is not even levied in the heart of Chicago but on “suburban gun stores in the county.”

Now consider this–Chicago’s “violence tax” went into effect in April 2013. Months later, CBS Chicago reported number of homicides in Chicago for 2013 came in at 415. People cheered! The tax is working! Violence has abated!

Then came 2014, the first full calendar year after the implementation of the tax, and the Chicago Tribune reported 434 deaths–a 19 death increase.

Then came the first six months of 2015, and Chicago’s ABC 7 reported that “murders and shooting are up.” For example, “in June of 2015, there were 13 more homicides in Chicago than June of 2014.” In all, USA Today reported the homicide rate in Chicago jumped “19 percent” and “shooting incidents” rose “21 percent” in the first six months of 2015.

But guess what? Cook County gets $25 for every gun law-abiding citizens buy for self-defense and Seattle’s City Council vote indicates that that city may soon begin doing the same.